The Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) is next week expected to have finalised the controversy surrounding the suspension of its former Public Relations Officer, Glody Dube.
Due to his suspension, Dube, who was suspended by the immediate past committee of the BAA, was not allowed to stand for elections that ushered in the current new committee.
Speaking in an interview with Standard Sport, BAA president, Thari Mooketi, says they expect the report of the investigation to be discussed when the BAA executive committee meets this coming Friday. The BAA president says the final report and verdict on the issue will be released during the BAA’s Special General meeting, which is due on the 30th of this month.
“I have consulted with the person tasked with looking into that issue and though I cannot discuss the issue, I can tell that the issue is close to conclusion and is expected to be wrapped up before the Executive Committee meeting on the 15th of this month,” the BAA president said. The issue of the former PRO’s prohibition from running for office may prove too complex to handle, more especially as he was suspended by a ‘nullified committee,’ something which even the current BAA president believes must be looked into.
“While looking at his suspension, we also have to look into whether the immediate past committee’s decision to suspend him should have prohibited him from standing for office more so that the committee was deemed not properly elected by the affiliates,” Mooketsi added.
Among other issues that the committee will look into before heading for the special general meeting will be the issue of uniforms for junior athletes who took part in the Africa Junior Championships (AJC) that were hosted by Botswana in April this year.
The issue was one of the many that eventually led to Dube’s suspension and the ultimate dissolution of the then BAA executive committee. Though cagey about the details of the report into the uniform saga, Mooketsi says the issue may not be as serious as it looked to be, adding that there may have been ‘mistakes on the part of all parties concerned in the matter’.
The BAA president says the issues, together with that of updating the structures of the BAA will be discussed before they can be released to the affiliates during the July 30th Special General meeting.
As part of their task when taking office, Mooketsi’s committee was also to look into the issue of alleged misappropriation of funds within the BAA as well as to give a feedback on the AJC, which was hosted in Botswana. Mooketsi says they have already talked with the AJC Local Organising Committee as well as the former BAA president, Moses Bantsi, and says he is optimistic all issues will be laid to rest soon.
